The SA Football Association has suffered a temporary defeat in its quest to foist a three percent commission on players' agents.

This week, the Johannesburg High Court granted the agents a reprieve when it set aside the regulations pending a hearing which will be followed by a final ruling.

"Pending the hearing of a review of the regulations, the agents asked the court to suspend the operation of the new regulations on the basis that these will irreparably prejudice them before the merits of the review have been heard. The court came to the conclusion that an interim order should be handed down suspending the operation of the new regulations until the review is heard," Safa said.

It added that the review would be heard in due course by another court, but cautioned the agents against early celebrations.

"This decision does not mean the new Safa regulations on intermediaries have been set aside or are invalid," Safa said.

It meant the activities of players' agents would continue to be regulated by the Safa regulations of 2008 until the dispute had been settled.

This means agents can charge up to 10 percent and not be restricted to three percent as the new regulation seek to do.

But Safa said it was confident it would win the case in court. "Safa has no doubt that the new regulations will be upheld, that they enjoy the overwhelming support of participants in the game, that they accord fully with the requirements of Fifa and South African law. We are confident the review court will confirm that."

Agents said yesterday they would issue a joint statement on the matter.